Compare towns
Ipswich vs Douglas vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ipswich | Douglas | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
9,207Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Douglas and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Douglas | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Douglas High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.2Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.